Cutter chain



June 30, 1936 A.L. LEE

CUTTER CHAIN Filed July 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Maya @250 BY6) MJ/MW A ORNEYS.

Fame 30, 1936. A. L. LEE 72,046,023

CUTTER CHAIN Filed July 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MK 8Y6 MM A ORNEYAS.

Patented June 30, 1936 UNETE STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a chain construction, and particularly to a cutter chain for association with mining machinery as used in coal mining, and similar mining operations.

Ihe primary, and general, object of my invention is to provide a narrow cutter chain which is of a practical structure, in that it is formed to preserve the useful life of the pivot members interconnecting the chain links, to preserve the useful life of a sprocket with which the chain is associated; and in that it is formed to use simple and inexpensive picks.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pick-holding element in which a pick is held and supported by the body structure of the pick holder, without the addition of a pick-holding boss, or socket member, existing as a protuberance from the body proper of the pick-holding element, and in which the fan arrangement of picks, giving the requisite spread of cutting surface in the cutter chain, considered as a whole, is obtainable by bodily deformation of the pickholding element into a position of inclination to the vertical.

Another object of my invention is to provide secure mounting for picks of slight thickness, so that there may be employed picks of simple and efiicicnt contour, which may be sheared to form from a. simple rectangular bar.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for securing the picks in the body of the pick holder which are capable of firmly engaging a double pointed pick in the holder, and in which threaded element for exerting picken aging pressure is threaded to a replacable element, rather than in the actual body of the pick holder.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pin assembly for rotatably engaging the pick holder to adjacent connecting links which avoids the use of bolts or rivets for this purpose.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a cutter chain in which the pick holder has a triple contact with the teeth of its sprocket, being formed to interinediately embrace a sprocket tooth and to be contacted by transversely sprocket teeth at the rear of the pickhclder in regions at both sides of the following connecting link.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sprocket having triple lines of sprocket teeth to engage a cutter chain in the manner noted above.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. I is a side elevation of a portion of a sprocket showing the cutter chain of my invention passing thereover.

Fig. II is a plan view of the cutter chain shown in Fig. I.

Fig. III is an end elevation of the sprocket shown in Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a detail view taken in horizontal section on the line IV-IV of Fig. I, illustrating the mounting of one of the pins for rotatably interconnecting a bit-holding structure of the chain with a connecting link. 10

Fig. IVa is a detail elevation of one of the connecting pins providing specialized pivotal connection between the pick-carrying links and the connecting links of the cutter chain.

Fig. V is a side elevation of one of the outer 5 elements forming the body of the pick holder of the cutter chain.

Fig. VI is an end elevation of the two cooperating side elements of the pick holder body, showing the elements aligned with each other as in the assembly, these elements being formed for mounting a pick in straight vertical position.

Fig. VII is an end elevation of the side body elements of a pick holder shown in the manner of Fig. VI but showing two side elements of a pick holder as formed for the mounting of a cutter pick in a position inclined to the vertical.

Fig. VIII is a view similar to Fig. VII but showing the side elements of a pick holder body formed to hold a pick in a position inclined oppositely to the vertical from the inclination shown in Fig. VII.

Fig. IX is a side elevation of the intermediate 35 body element of the pick holder.

Fig. X is an end elevation of the intermediate body element shown in Fig. IX.

Fig. XI is a detail side elevation of the bitclamping member of the pick holder.

Fig. XII is a front elevation of the clamping member shown in Fig. XI.

Fig. XIII is a side elevation of a complete pick holder in condition for the mounting of the pick holder in a cutter chain.

Fig. XIV is a plan view of the pick holder as shown in Fig. XIII.

Fig. XV is a front elevation of an assembled pick holder constructed as in Figs. XIII and XIV, but formed to hold the cutting pick in a position inclined to the vertical.

Fig. XVI is a detail of a rectangular bar, illustrating a sub-division of the bar into cutter picks for incorporation in the cutter chain assembly.

Fig. XVII is an isometric view, on an enlarged between the several pick holders.

scale, showing one of the cutter picks of the chain assembly. 7

In the accompanying drawings, reference numeral I designates generally a sprocket constructed for use with the'cutter chain of my invention, reference numeral 2 designates generally the pick-holding structures of the cutter chain, and reference numeral 3 the connecting links lying Referring to Fig. I of the drawings, it will be seen that the connection of the cutter chain with sprocket I is such that one tooth 4 of the sprocket enters into the body of the pick holder to lie against the arcuate faces 3a of the connecting links within the body of the pick holder. Other sprocket teeth 5 lie one to each side of the connecting links 3, and bear against arcuate faces 2a at the rear of the pick holder body.

By reference to Fig. III of the drawings, it will be seen that the two outer sets of sprocket teeth 5 are in transversejalignment with each other, while theintermediate set of sprocket teeth 4 is so arranged that these teeth are in staggered pick holders 2.

. 5. Outer guard platesfi extend to, or slightly beyond, the outer faces of all the teeth, and with the sprocket 'in meshing engagement with the chain lie to both sides of the body of each of the This triple sprocket may conveniently be made by stamping separately the two guard plates 6 and the three intermediate toothed plates, and then welding theseplates to form a complete sprocket as shown in Figs. I and III. The triple engagement between the sprocket and the chain gives. increased smoothness of action between the chain and sprocket. It also distributes the load over an increased sprocket tooth area, thus tending to prolong the life of the sprocket;

In order that all the advantages of my inven tion maybe enjoyed, the bit holders are built up each of three stampings, to provide the body of the bit holder. A typical outer stamped body element is shown in Fig. V of the drawings. This stamping, given as as element reference numeral I, has'its lower region formed at both ends of the stamping on the arc of a circle, in order to conform to the contour of the eyes in the connecting links, and in order to provide the curved surfaces 2a for contact by the outer sprocket teeth 5, which have been mentioned above. The, rearward edge of the stamping inclines forwardly from 'the arcuate region 2a, and its upper edge inclines slightly downwardly from the high point of the member. The forward face of the member extends downwardly and inwardly in a straight line to the point at which it meets the curved lower portion 2a of the forward edge. The squaring of the upper region on the forward edge of the member is of convenience in mounting a sets crew for clamping the cutter pick in the pick holder, in-a manner which will be hereinafter described. 1

In its lower region, the stamping has two circular openings 8 with which merge recesses 9.

Intermediate its extent the member has an elongate opening I0, adjacent which is a small circular opening I I. In its upper forward region, intermediate the edges of the member there is a rectangular opening l2; and an arcuate groove I3 lies inwardly from the forward edge of the member to this opening I2, and extends inwardly therebeyond' r In making up the assembled body shown in Figs. XIII and XIV of the drawings two identical side members, as described, are brought into matching relation, spaced by an intermediate member I4, which is preferably also a stamping. This member I4 is shaped in conformity with the necessity for space between the side membersjancl is positioned between the side members as shown in Fig. IHII. Referring to Fig. XIII it will be noted that member I4, lying between the two side members I, has a portion Ma projecting intermediately into the opening through the assembly resulting from registry of the elongate openings II} in the two side members. The lower forward face MI) and the lower rearward face Me of intermediate member I4 are both formed on an arc concentric with the openings 8. When therefore, in assembly of the cutter chain, connecting links are pinned to the pick holder body at the openings 8, the regional spaces provided by the arcuate edge formation of intermediate member I4 accommodate, and. provide for rotation of, the circular eyelets formed terminally on the connecting links. Member I4 is provided with an upwardly and forwardly reaching extension I5, which projects upwardly beyond the upper edge of the side members I, and provides backing for the cutter pick mounted between the side members.

In interconnecting the members to form an integral pick-holding structure, the region M11 is built up with welding metal at both sides of the intermediate member I4, preferably to the outer face of each side member I, so that the two side members are thereby connected to the intermediate member common to both. It will be. noted that the rearward edge of intermediatemember I4, and its extension I5, do not project rearwardly to the line of the rearward edges of side members I. There thus remains at the rear of the assembly a space I6, between side members I and to the rear of intermediate member I4. This space also is filled with welding metal.

For mounting a cutter pick in the assembled holder, a pick clamp IT is mounted in the space between the two side members I, by passing a pin I8 through. matching holes II in the side members I and through an elongate opening I9 in the lower region of the pick clamp. Pin I8 may be riveted to, or otherwise suitably secured to, the side members 'I. It will be noted from Fig- XIII that, as mounted, pick clamp I'I rests upon the upper edge ofthe main body portion of intermediate member I I. Turning movement of the pick clamp is, however, permitted-by the elongate form of opening I9 therein, in which the mounting pin I8 lies. When a cutter pick is introduced into the body of the holder, its lower end rests upon the wall formed in opening III by the upper edge of the member I4, and it is forced against the forward face of extension I5 by pressure of the forward toothed edge 20 of clamp II against it.

The. matching of the rectangular openings I2 in the two side members, provides a rectangular recess, and the'grooves I3 together with the space intervening between the side members provide a-bore extending inwardly to, and beyond, the rectangular recess. In order to bring pressure to bear upon pick clamp IT, a rectangular nut 2I is placed in the recess. By inserting a set-screw 22 into the bore in the body of the" pick holder and the threaded bore' of nut 2I, linear movement of the set-screw to bear against the rearward face of clamp I1 is obtained by rotation of the set-screw in the nut, rotation of the nut being prevented by its rectangular conformation and the rectangular form of the recess in which it lies.

The advantage of utilizing a nut so mounted to obtain linear movement of the set-screw is that it avoids the necessity for threading a bore in the body of the pick holder, thus preventing the necessity to rethread or discard the pick holder, should the threads with which the setscrew matches become deformed.

The cutter pick, designated by reference numeral 23, is a simple fiat-sided member terminally formed at both ends with oppositely inclined edges. This type of cutter pick is adapted to the compact structure of the pick holder, and is itself of simple and economical form. As shown in Fig. XVI of the drawings, the cutter picks 23 may be formed from a simple rectangular bar by shearing along the lines 24. The cutter pick is reversible, and when one end of the pick becomes worn down in service, the other end of the cutter pick may be made elfective by merely reversing the pick in the pick holder.

I provide for a connection between the bitholding link of the chain and the connecting links such that a wear-resisting pivot, of suitable alloy, or suitably hardened, may be used. To this end I provide specially formed pins 25 to pass through the matched openings 8 in the side members of the pick holder, and through openings 26 in the connecting links 3. A connecting pin 25, and an operative mounting of a pin, are shown respectively in Figs. IV and IVa of the drawings. The pins 25 are cylindrical members having therethrough a bore 21. Each of the pins is further provided with two recesses 28, shown as longitudinally aligned, and each extending from an end of the pin less than half of its longitudinal length. The recesses extend radially inward to the bore 21 of the pin. This leaves an intermediate bridge 29 at which the periphery of the pin is undeformed.

In interconnecting a pick holder to the adjacent connecting links 3, two of the pins 25 are inserted through the openings 8 in the side members of the bit holder and passed through openings 26 in the eyes of two connecting links, which circular eyes lie between the two side members 1 of the pick holder. As inserted, the pins are so positioned that the recesses 28 therein are in alignment with recesses 9 in the two side members I. A wire 30 of suitable length is then passed through the bore 21 of each of the pins, and is bent over tolie against bridge 29 and to lie in recesses 9 in the side members of the pick holder. Wire 30 should be of substantial diameter, and should fit snugly within bore 21 and against the bridge 29 of the connecting pin.

It should be understood that this mode of interconnecting sprocket links and connecting links is applicable to sprocket chains generally as well as to cutter chains specifically. Briefly described, this connection consists in passing a pin through an eye opening of a connecting link em braced between side straps of a sprocket link, and through matching openings in the side straps. A wire, or bar, of suitable cross-sectional area is passed through a longitudinal bore in the pin and is then at its ends bent to provide legs lying at an angle to the longitudinal portion of the wire, which legs lie within matching radial recesses in the pin, and'recesses in the side straps of the sprocket link.

Referring to Figs VII, VIII and XV of the drawings, these figures illustrate the arrangement of pick holders made to hold a pick at an along the edge of this spacing portion at the rear angle to the vertical. In Fig. VII the two side members are given respectively, reference numerals 1a and lb, and it will be observed that both these members are so formed that their upper pick-holding regions extend angularly from the lower connecting region of the members, inclining to the left when viewed from the front of the pick holder as illustrated in this figure of the drawings. The region 3| in which these members are bent, extends longitudinally above the region provided for the reception of connecting link eyes and below the upper edge of intermediate member l4, and it is to be understood that intermediate member M is similarly bent to conform with the said members. It may be noted that in this deflected pick holder, the side member 1a, lying to the left, is made initially of a slightly lesser height than side member lb lying to the right.

Fig. VIII shows the side members deformed to hold a cutter pick at an angle similar to that shown in Fig. VII but opposite in sense. In this figure of the drawings the side member To, lying to the right, is made initially of slightly lesser height than side member 1d lying to the left.

In Fig. XV of the drawings a complete assembly is shown, with the arrangement of side members, and inclination to the vertical shown in Fig. VIII with respect to the side straps. It should be understood that the inclination at which the pick holders are adapted to hold the cutter pick may be varied as is desirable. It is usual in constructing this chain to make it up of three or more different sorts of pick holder. A representative group of pick holders in a chain usually comprises one arranged to hold the cutter pick in vertical position in accordance with the arrangement of Fig. VI; one each of the pick holders arranged to mount picks at opposite angles to the vertical as shown in Figs. VII and VIII, and two pick holders arranged to hold the pick inclined in the direction from the vertical shown Figs. VII and VIII, but to hold the pick at lesser angles to the vertical than illustrated in Figs. VII and VIII.

Certain features of my invention are applicable to the pick holders of cutter chains generally considered. Thus, the pin connection might clearly be employed in connecting other forms of pick holder to adjacent connecting links. Also the use of a nut, housed to inhibit turning movement, and cooperating with the pick-locking set-screw, is a feature of general, as well as specific, advantage.

While it is highly desirable for reasons of economy, that each pick holder body be made of three individual stampings, it is possible to make up the pick holder bodies of two elements only. In such case, one of the side members may be made of forged or cast steel to include, integrally therewith, intermediate spacing member [4 and its pick-supporting extension I 5. In such case, the forged or cast member is provided initially with the connecting pin openings 8 and the squared nut-receiving opening l2. The welding opening I0 is omitted, and the opening H for the clamp mounting pin l8 may be drilled after the member is forged or cast. In assembly the other side member may be identical with the member shown in Fig. V of the drawings, and welding is performed in the same manner by building up metal in opening l0 against the spacing portion of the other side member which represents intermediate member I 4, and by welding of the assembly. Considered in connection with the illustrations of stamped side' members, the description of this modification should be sufficiently clear to render specific illustration unnecessary. V

There is special interest in, and a demand for, narrow cutter chains for use in coal mining. ,It is well understood that the material from'a kerf cut in a seam of coal is a finely divided material known as siack, which is of substantially less periods of use, and one in which the cutter pick is of an inexpensive and renewable nature.

It will be noted that the narrow cutter chain of my invention is so arranged that the sprocket with which it cooperates has a' simultaneous three-tooth bearing on the pick-holding element of the chain, so that the unit load on the light individual sprocket teeth is minimized. The connecting pins; bridging between the two side members, are mounted in double shear rather than in single shear. Further, these pins may be made of material hardened suitably to withstand. the stresses to which they are subjected.

The welded and spaced interconnection of the two side members, or side straps, of the pick holder assembly provides within the body itself of the pick holder narrow mounting space for a narrow pick. It should be understood that it would be'difiicult, if not impossible, to cast or machine a pick-receiving opening of suitably slight width in a solid body region of a pick holder. Since the pick itself isnarrow it would be difficult to clamp it firmly in the body, of the pick holder by direct contact of a set-screw with an edge of the pick. The provision of the special pick clamp, however, permits the pressure exerted 'by a set-screw to be suitably applied to an edge of the pick.

The pick shown and described itself economical both in initial manufacture and in continued use. Being made from a simple rectangular steel bar by shearing, forging, or similar forming op erations, are unnecessary in its manufacture. In use, the picks may be sharpened by merely grinding down their r earwardly inclined edges, as shown by the dotted line 32 in Fig. XVII, without subjecting thepicks to a reforging operation. Each pick, being reversible, has two cutting points, so that its useful life is thereby increased. The life of the pick is in effect limited merely by the grinding away at both ends of the pick to an extent which shortens the length of the pickso that it will no longer effectively project from the pick holder.

The advantages of a narrow cutter chain, to cut a narrow kerf, have been explained. If desired, however, a wider chain maybe made up of this structure without difficulty. Thus, by utilizing connecting pins of increased length, two pick holders may be mounted in lateral alignment and may both be engaged by a sprocket, which comprises two sets of sprocket teeth suchas shown in Fig. III mounted in. lateral alignment to carry two laterally aligned chains. In many instances,

' two individual cutter chains, made as described,

may merely be mounted in lateral alignment on r such a sprocket.

I claim as my invention: 5

1. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members presenting to each other substantially plane opposed surfaces, said members being interconnected in uniformly spaced relation by'regional welding to an intermediate spacing member of substantially uniform thickness.

'2. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members uniformlyspaced from each other and an intermediate spacing member welded to the two side members, said intermediate member shaped to provide between the, two side members space for the reception of connectinglinks and spacefor the reception and mounting of a cutter pick.

'3. ma sprocket chain the combination of' a sprocket link comprising two uniformly spaced side members and an intermediate spacing mem-' ber welded to the two side members, said intermediate member being shaped toleave between the two side members space for the reception of connecting links and space for the entry of a. sprocket tooth the lower median region of the structure.

4. As an element of acutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members uniformly spaced from each other and an' intermediate spacing member shaped to provide between the two side members space for the reception of connecting links and space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick, both said side members being Welded to said intermediate 'member and said and mounting of a cutter pick, the integration of said intermediate body with at least one of said side members being by welding.

'6. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members and an intermediate spacing body integrated with said side members and so shaped that in integration of the pick holder it leaves between opposed and spaced regions of the sidemembers space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick and marginal space for the reception of welding metal between opposed surfaces of the side members, the integration of said intermediate bodywith at least one of said side members being by welding, and a fill-,- ing weld between the side members in the marginal region between their opposed surfaces provided by'the shape of said intermediate body; 7

'7. As an element of a cutter chain'a pick holder comprising two side members and an intermediate spacing body integrated with said side members and so shaped that in integration of the pick holder it leaves between opposed and spaced regions of the side members space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick, a perfobody integrating said perforated side member with said intermediate body.

8. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members and an intermediate spacing body integrated with said side members and so shaped that in integration of the pick holder it leaves between opposed and spaced regions of the side members space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick and marginal space for the reception of welding metal between opposed surfaces of the side members, a perforation through at least one side member exposing a side surface of said intermediate body, a filling weld in said opening and against the exposed surface of said intermediate body integrating said perforated side member with said intermediate body, and a filling weld between the side members in the marginal region between their opposed surfaces exposed by the shape of said intermediate body.

9. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members and an intermediate spacing body integrated with said side members and so shaped that in integration of the pick holder it leaves between opposed and spaced regions of the side members space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick and space for the reception of connecting links, the integration of said intermediate body with at least one of the side members being by welding, and the upper pick-receiving region of the pick holder being bodily deflected to lie at an angle to the region arranged for the reception of connecting links.

10. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members and an intermediate spacing body integrated with said side members and so shaped that in integration of the pick holder it leaves between opposed and spaced regions of the side members space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick and space for the reception and mounting of connecting links, a perforation through the body of at least one side member exposing a side surface of said intermediate body, a filling weld in said opening and against the exposed surface of said intermediate body integrating said perforated side member'with said intermediate body, the upper pick-receiving region of the pick holder being bodily deflected to lie at an angle to the region arranged for the reception of connecting links.

11. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members and an intermediate spacing body integrated with said side members and so shaped that in integration of the pick holder it leaves between opposed and spaced regions of the side members space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick, the

integration of said intermediate body with at least one of said side members being by welding, and a cutter pick of relative light section mounted in the space between the two side members provided for its reception by the shape of the said intermediate body.

12. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members and an intermediate spacing body integrated with said side members and so shaped that in integration of the pick holder it leaves between opposed and spaced regions of the side members space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick, the integration of said intermediate body with at least one of said side members being by welding, and a median pick-supporting extension formed as an integral region of said intermediate body and projecting upwardly beyond the side members in the region of the pick-receiving space therein.

13. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members and an intermediate spacing body integrated with said side members and so shaped that in integration of the pick holder it leaves between opposed and spaced regions of the side members space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick, the integra tion of said intermediate body with at least one of said side members being by welding, a pick clamp within the space for receiving and mounting a cutter pick between the side members, a recess in the body of the pick holder, a nut in said recess, said recess and nut being so shaped as to inhibit turning movement of the nut in the recess, and a set-screw threaded to the nut and arranged to bear against the pick clamp.

14. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members spaced from each other throughout in parallel planes and having a welded interconnection therebetween, said welded interconnection being so arranged as to leave between the two side members space for the reception of connecting links and space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick.

15. As an element of a cutter chain a pick holder comprising two side members spaced from each other throughout in parallel planes and having a welded interconnection therebetween, said welded interconnection being so arranged as to leave in the lower region of the pick holder space for the reception and mounting of connecting links and in the upper region of the pick holder space for the reception and mounting of a cutter pick, and the upper pick-receiving region of the pick holder being bodily deflected to lie at an angle to the region arranged for the reception of connecting links.

ARTHUR L. LEE. 

